the mistress of the night
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The tuberose is so called because it emits its strongest fragrance after sunset.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the mistress of the night” mean?
The tuberose is so called because it emits its strongest fragrance after sunset.
Is “the mistress of the night” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.